ITALY SACRED – Religious Tour
This tour is focused on the visit of the most important sites of Christianity present in Italy. From north to south to discover and breath the holy atmosphere preserved in monuments churches and sites sof the peninsula. An unforgettable journey for your eyes and your soul across several Italian cities and towns.
Day 1 – Arrive Rome (3 nights)
(Dinner)
On arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport you are met by our tour guide . A brief sightseeing tour of Rome by de luxe coach provided with audio system (for all the journey) prior to reach the hotel will follow and, depending on time, an afternoon mass will be arranged in a Roman church (usually St. Mary the Major or St. John in Lateran) . After check-in in a IV star hotel (see list attached), find out more about your tour and your traveling companions at a welcome drink followed by a dinner at hotel.
Day 2–Rome sightseeing/Papal Audience (on Wednesdays)
(Breakfast/Dinner)
After breakfast you will attend the Papal Audience with Pope Benedict XVI , visit of St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the splendid vault painted by Michelangelo. As alternative all the morningwill highlight the most important sites of the Romanism as the Forum, Coliseum, Piazza Venezia andthe center of the city, (mass in a Roman church if not possible on day 1). Return to hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 3 Rome – St Paul Basilica and Catacombs
(Breakfast/Dinner)
This morning, departure to St. Paul Outside the Wall, the traditional site of Paul’s tomb and the Scala Santa, which will be followed by a visit and a mass at the Catacombs (St. Callistus or St. Sebastian). Return to hotel and afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 4 – Montecassino and San Giovanni Rotondo
(Breakfast / Dinner)
After an early breakfast, we will leave Rome heading south having our first stop in Montecassino, one of the holy places of Roman Catholicism. Visit of the monastery, mother house of the Benedictines. Optional visit to the Cassino war cemetery where hundreds of allied soldiers who attended the famous “Battle of Cassino” (May 1944) were buried ( mass at the monastery). Lunch at leisure. Departure to San Giovanni Rotondo, site of pilgrimage dear to myriad devotees of Padre Pio who was sanctified San Pio in 1999. Check- in at hotel, (see list attached), dinner and overnight.
Day 5 – Monte Sant’Angelo and Loreto
(Breakfast / Dinner)
The day begins with a visit and mass in the Convent of Padre Pio where the “ monk of Pietralcina is buried”. Visit of the Chiesa Nuova, the sanctuary dedicated to the saint, afterward departure to Monte Sant’Angelo. This beautiful town built on a spur dominated by the massive form of its castle overlooking both Gargano Promontory and the sea. The city is dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Sightseeing of the city and visit of the Sanctuary of San Michael (optional mass) designed in the transitional Romanesque-Gothic style. Lunch at leisure and departure to Loreto. This small city is grouped around its well-known church which is the scene of a famous pilgrimage to the “House of Mary”. Check-in at hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 6 – Loreto and Assisi
(Breakfast / Dinner)
After breakfast, we will enjoy a walking tour of the city of Loreto which will include a moment of pray in the marvelous “Sanctuary of the Holy House of Mary” ( mass ) which was started at the end of XV century and completed only in the XVIII century. Many famous architects, painters and sculptors contributed to the building of the church and in particular, Bramante and Vanvitelli. After a lunch at leisure we make our way to Assisi where we are supposed to arrive in the late afternoon. Brief sightseeing of the city. Check-in at hotel, (see attached list) dinner and overnight.
Day 7 – Assisi
(Breakfast/Dinner)
All the morning is dedicated to a guided tour of the city of St. Francis which deeply retains its medieval character. Tour includes the Basilica of St. Francis (mass) which is divided in two different churches: Basilica Inferiore and Basilica Superiore, famous for the Giotto’s frescoes which was considerably damaged by an earthquake in 1997. The visit continues with the Saint Rufino Dhome, Piazza del Comune which contains the “Temple of Minerva” a temple converted into a church and the famous church of Santa Chiara. Lunch at leisure and afternoon visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli where a mass will be taken. Return to hotel and overnight.
Day 8 – Assisi – Siena – Padua
(Breakfast/Dinner)
After an early breakfast we leave Assisi heading north. Our first stop will be Siena. More than anywhere else, Siena conveys the aspects of a medieval city with its narrow Gothic streets, lined with palaces and patrician mansions, which converge on the Piazza del Campo worldwide famous for its horse riding named “Palio”. The city was the birthplace of St. Catherine, patron saint of Siena and one of the most venerated saints of Christianity. Lunch at leisure and depart to Padua. Arrival in the late afternoon, check-in at hotel, (see list below), dinner and overnight.
Day 9 – Padua – Venice (optional)
(Breakfast)
After breakfast we begin the sightseeing of the city of St. Anthony the Heremit, patron saint of Padua who died in the environs of Padua. Visit of the Basilica del Santo, one of the most important pilgrimage church in Italy which is dedicated to St. Anthony, we continue with the visit of the Cappella degli Scrovegni (mass) with hits frescoes painted by Giotto and the Church of Hermits famous for the Mantegna paintings. Afternoon at leisure or optional tour to Venice with dinner. Return to hotel and overnight.
Day 10 – Padua – Milan
(Breakfast – Dinner)
This morning, our last day of visits, we leave Padua heading to Milan. Sightseeing of the city, th the with beautiful Dome which is the symbol of Milan, the Scala Theatre traditionally recognized as being the most famous Opera Theatre in the world. After a lunch at leisure we proceed for the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. In the former refectory (cenacolo) of the monastery is the famous portrayal of the “Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most superb paintings of history and of an enormous spiritual meaning. Check in at hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 11 – Milan – home
(Breakfast)
It’s time to say ‘arrivederci Italia’ . After breakfast, transfer to Malpensa airport and fly back home.